Pipe and flange aligner



June 4, 1963 J. 5. FEELER 3,092,058

PIPE AND FLANGE ALIGNER Filed Jan. 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAMES S"- FEl 58 June 4, 1963 J. s. FEELER PIPE AND FLANGE ALIGNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1960 INVENTOR. JAMES S. FEEL 5/? United States Patent G 3,092,058 PIPE AND FLANGE ALIGNER James S. Feeler, 3557 S. Saint Francis, Wichita 16, Kans. Filed Jan. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 1,216 3 Claims. (Cl. 113-402) This invention relates to a novel and improved pipe and flange aligner for use in Welding flanges on ends of pipe sections.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a more efiicient and more easily used timeand laborsaving device of the kind indicated, which involves a positioning rod having pipe engaging shoes for engaging the interior of a pipe section, and a gradiently shouldered mandrel which is slidably mounted on the rod and is reversible on the rod, so as to accommodate both slip-on fllanges and weld-neck flanges.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above wherein interchangeable shoes of different diameters, to non-adjustably engage in pipe sections of different diameters, are provided for mounting on the positioning rod, so as to eliminate the inaccuracies and misalignments of pipe sections and flanges which are incidental to the use of present adjustable pipe and flange aligners.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above which is composed of a small number of uncomplicated and easily assembled parts, and which can be made in rugged and serviceable forms at relatively low cos-t.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the in vention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation showing the device operatively engaged in a pipe section and its mandrel supporting a Welded clip-on flange;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a view like FIGURE 3, showing the mandrel supporting a Weld-neck flange.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and related numerals designate like and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES 1 to 4, the illustrated device, generally designated 10, comprises an elongated preferably smooth cylindrical positioning rod 12, which has a free distal end 14, and an intermediate portion 16. At a point close to the end 14 an inner arcuate shoe 18, preferably semi-cylindrical in form, is secured on and extends laterally from the rod 12, and outer shoe is secured on and extends laterally from the opposite side of the rod 12, and is diametrically opposite in position to the inner shoe 18, the shoes being held removably in place by means of studs 22 and 24 which are threaded in radial bores 26 and 28 provided in the rod 12.

The shoes 18 and 20 are similar in form and in size, and comprise open semi-cylindrical bridges which have straight flat diametrical portions 30 and semi-circular portions 32, the studs being threaded through bores 34 which are centered in the diametrical portions 30 and open to semi-circular notches 36 therein, which conformably receive and engage the positioning rod 12, so that the outer peripheral surfaces 38 of the semi-circular portions 32 3,092,058 Patented June 4, 1963 are concentric to the axis of the rod 12. The shoes 18 and 20 are selected as to diameter, for mounting on the rod 12, in accordance with the inside diameter of a pipe section P with which the device 10 is to be used.

The device further comprises a gradiently shouldered mandrel 40, which, like the shoes 18 and 20, can be provided in a number of different inter-changeable sizes. The mandrel 40 comprises an elongated, preferably solid cylindrical body 42 having an outside diameter to fit snugly and slidably into a particular pipe section P, the body 42 having first and second squared ends 44 and 46, respectively.

Surrounding and fixed on the mandrel body 42, at a point intermediate its ends and preferably nearer to its first end 44 than to its second end 46, is a step-cut annulus 48 which faces the first end 44 and provides an inner or first shoulder 50, of the outside diameter of the pipe section P, an intermediate or second shoulder 52, and an outer or third shoulder 54.

The intermediate or second shoulder 52 is on a stop 53 of the same diameter as the first shoulder 50, and as shown in FIGURE 3, spaced from the first shoulder 50 at a distance less than the length of the collar 56 of a slip-on pipe flange F, and can be smaller in diameter than the flange element 60 of the flange F. The outer or third shoulder 54, which faces toward the second end 46 of the mandrel 40, is of the full diameter of the step-cut annulus 48.

In use and operation, for positioning and welding a slip-on flange F on the pipe section P, at the outer end 62 thereof, the flange F is initially engaged on an intermediate part of the pipe section, as indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 3, and the positioning rod 12 and its shoes 18 and 20 slid into the pipe sections, so that the outer shoe 20 is located near to the outer end 62 of the pipe section P. The mandrel 40 is then slid along the rod 12 and its first end 44 engaged in the pipe section until the first shoulder 50 thereof abuts the outer end 62. The slip-on flange F is then moved along the pipe sec tion P until its flange element 60 is positioned on the stop 53 and bears against the intermediate or second shoulder 52, and so that the free edge 64 of the collar 56 reaches inwardly beyond the outer end 62 of the pipe section P. With the components of the device held in these positions, relative to the pipe section P, tack welds 66 are applied around the pipe section and the collar edge 64, so as to secure the slip-on flange F to the pipe section, and the device 10 is withdrawn from the pipe section.

For Welding a weld-neck flange Fa on the outer end of a pipe section P, as shown in FIGURE 5, the device 10 is applied to the pipe section as described above, but with the mandrel 40 in reversed position, with its second end 46 within the pipe section. In this case, the neck or flange collar 56a which is smaller in diameter than the collar 56 of the slip-on flange F, and is of the same diameter and thickness as the side wall of the pipe section, is engaged on the mandrel body 42 behind the annulus 48, with the flange element 60a engaged with the outer or third shoulder 54. This puts the free edge 64:: of the neck 56a in abutment with the outer end 62 of the pipe section P, whereat tack welds 66a are applied to the edge 64a and the pipe section end 62, and the device then is withdrawn from the pipe section P and the weld-neck flange Fa.

It is to be observed that the mandrel 40, and the shoes 18 and 20 are readily replaceable, When worn, so as to restore the accurate alignment of pipe sections and flanges obtainable by the fixed, rather than adjustable character of the device 10.

the relative arrangements of components thereof are con-\ templated as being Within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe and flange aligner comprising a positioning rod smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of a pipe section and adapted to extend from an end of said pipe section, said rod having an inner end, an inner 'arcuate shoe fixed on the rod at its inner end, an outer arcuate shoe fixed on the rod and spaced from the inner shoe, said shoes being diametrically opposed and engageable with the interior of a pipe section, and a mandrel slidably circumposed on the rod, said mandrel having a cylindrical body of the inside diameter of a pipe section, said mandrel body having first and second pipe section entering ends, a fixed annulus surrounding said mandrel body and spaced from its ends, said annulus having stepped first, second, and third shouders, two of said shoulders being adapted to engage the neck of a pipe flange to be Welded on a pipe section in which an end of a mandrel is adapted to be engaged, said shoes being open semi-cylindrical bodies having fiat diametrical portions "and arcuate portions having peripheral surfaces to conformably engage an interior of the pipe section, said diametrical portions having notches receiving the positi-oning rod, and studs threaded through the diametrical portions and threaded into the rod.

2. A pipe and flange aligner comprising a positioning rod smaller indiameter than the inside diameter of a pipe section and adapted to extend from an end of said pipe section, said rod having an inner end, an inner arcuate shoe fixed on the rod at its inner end, an outer arcuate shoe fixed on the rod and spaced from the inner shoe, said shoes being diametrically opposed and engageable with the interior of a pipe section, and a mandrel slidab'ly circumposed on the rod, said mandrel having a cylindrical body of the inside diameter of a pipe section, said mandrel body having first and second pipe section entering ends, a fixed annulus surrounding said mandrel body and spaced from its ends, said annulus having stepped first, second, and third shoulders, two of said shoulders being adapted to engage the neck of a pipe flange to be Welded on a pipe section in which an end of a mandrel is adapted to be engaged, said shoes being open semi-cylindrical bodies having flat diametrical portions and arcuate portions having peripheral surfaces to conformably engage an interior of the pipe section, said diametrica'l portions having notches receiving the positioning rod, and studs threaded through the diametrical portions and threaded into the rod, said shoes being similar and interchangeable.

3. A pipe and pipe flange aligner comprising a gradiently shoudered mandrel having 'an axial bore extending therethrough, a rod extending slidably through said bore, and a pair of shoes fixed on the rod at longitudinally spaced points along the rod, said shoes being diametrically opposed to each other and having arcuate outer surfaces which are in concentric relationship, said shoes being fixed to diametrically opposed sides of said rod, said shoes being semi-circular and having flat diametrical inner surfaces, said inner surfaces being formed with arcuate notches conformably receiving said rod, and studs threaded through the rod and into the inner surfaces of the shoes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,166,284 Vroman Dec. 28, 1915 1,901,634 Dawkins Mar. 14, 1933 2,118,755 Bergert May 24, 1938 2,323,039 Hill June 29, 1943 2,853,771 Melville Sept. 30, 1958 2,890,042 Clemensen June 9, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 781,959 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1957 

3. A PIPE AND PIPE FLANGE ALIGNER COMPRISING A GRADIENTLY SHOUDERED MANDREL HAVING AN AXIAL BORE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A ROD EXTENDING SLIDABLY THROUGH SAID BORE, AND A PAIR OF SHOES FIXED ON THE ROD AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED POINTS ALONG THE ROD, SAID SHOES BEING DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING ARCUATE OUTER SURFACES WHICH ARE IN CONCENTRIC RELATIONSHIP, SAID SHOES BEING FIXED TO DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED SIDES OF SAID ROD, SAID SHOES BEING SEMI-CIRCULAR AND HAVING FLAT DIAMETRICAL INNER SURFACES, SAID INNER SURFACES BEING FORMED WITH ARCUATE NOTCHES CONFORMABLY RECEIVING SAID ROD, AND STUDS THREADED THROUGH THE ROD AND INTO THE INNER SURFACES OF THE SHOES. 